RSV aground 'WE CANNOT hold out much longer—• bumping heavily.' It was 0520 on January 12, just five minutes after extension trawler, now rig safety vessel, Spearfish reported to the Coastguard at Lerwick,Shetland Islands, that she was aground on Bressay Island in heavy seas and needed help. The Coastguard were already on the telephone to the honorary secretary of Lerwick lifeboat, who asked that maroons be fired.

The weather was overcast with rain squalls and the wind south by east force 8. Very rough, short, steep seas were breaking in Bressay Sound; it was two hours before low water. Claude Cecil Stan/forth, a 52' Barnett lifeboat under the command of Coxswain George Leith, cleared Lerwick Harbour and by 0550 had arrived off Spearfish, hard aground just south of Holm of Cruester with her bows eastwards into the shore.

The seas were pounding her on to the rocks, spray was breaking right over her.

Coxswain Leith first tried to close Spearfish on her lee side, but wind and sea drove him away towards the rocks and he had to disengage by going full astern. Next he tried to go alongside on the weather side, but found that his angle of approach had been too acute and he was being pushed under Spearfish's quarter; once again he had to pull out full astern.

On the third attempt, made with a wider angle of approach, Coxswain Leith took the lifeboat successfully alongside Spearfish's starboard, weather, side and held her there while the crew of four were helped aboard; he then worked his way astern, clearing the casualty at 0558.

By 0610 the lifeboat had returned to her berth in Lerwick Harbour with the four survivors on board. The lifeboat, her engines and all equipment used were entirely satisfactory during the service.

The belting had been damaged for some 4' in way of the port bow as the lifeboat had been held against the casualty in the rough conditions, and the wooden bow bulwark had been slightly sprung.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been awarded to Coxswain George Leith. Vellum service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Peter Leith, Motor Mechanic Hewitt Clark, Assistant Mechanic John Monat and Crew Members James Smith, Sam Fraser, Theo Nicolson and Andrew.